Whitehaven’s Rum Story Shop has teamed up with the owner of a Cumbrian sustainable fashion brand.
The museum’s shop on Lowther Street, has teamed up with Rebecca Lyall from Eco.Lure which makes a range of sustainable and ethical clothing and accessories.
Rebecca, who lives in Whitehaven, set up Eco.Lure in April 2022. All of Rebecca’s products are either made from recycled polyester, or regenerated or organic cotton from ethical producers.
She said: “I wanted to start a sustainable brand for a long time. I’m passionate about sustainability and the textiles industry is the second largest polluter in the world, so I want to try and do something about that.
“My packaging is compost friendly with no plastic at all. My tags are embedded with lavender seeds so people can take them off and plant them. I also offer a circular scheme, so once people are done with the product, they can send it back to me to be recycled.”
The Rum Story Shop will be carrying a range of Eco.Lure items including aprons and tote bags, with a view to Rebecca eventually creating a bespoke
collection of branded Rum Story items.
Rebecca added: “I’m really excited to begin this partnership with The Rum Story. This is an amazing opportunity for a small business like mine and I’m looking forward to seeing how things develop over the next few months,” said Rebecca.
The Rum Story Shop stands next to the Rum Story Attraction and both are owned and operated by Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners.
Chief executive John Baker said he was delighted the shop was supporting yet another local brand. He added: “Our mission at the Rum Story Shop is to showcase the fantastic local products and producers that are here in Cumbria.
“We love what Rebecca and Eco.Lure stands for and we’re incredibly impressed by what she is trying to achieve not just locally but on a global
scale.”
Rebecca is currently working with the Universities of Cumbria and Manchester to develop a business case to create a textile recycling centre in Whitehaven.
She said: “The universities are working on some studies to help me apply for grants and bring some investors on board. In the long term I’d love to see a project like this create green jobs for people in the local area.”
Rum Story Shop manager Louise McKenna said: “I’m really looking forward to working with Rebecca on some great new items for our shop. The array of local products we have here are a real draw for customers.
“People love the unique range we have on offer, and the variety and individual stories of the products make shopping here a really fun experience.”
